Martellus Bennett had a lot to say about how fans perceive NFL players

Rarely one to be shy with his words, Martellus Bennett unleashed a flurry of thoughts via Twitter early Tuesday afternoon.

The 31-year-old tight end — who was recently cut by the Patriots, despite reportedly wanting to extend his career — sent over 40 tweets to address some of the negative responses he’s received from fans since New England released him.

“It’s always funny and sad how fans ridicule players after they lose their jobs,” he tweeted. “You would never do that to another person who loses a job.”

It’s always funny and sad how fans ridicule players after they lose their jobs. Get cut, injury or traded. You would never do that to another person who loses a job. Dehumanizing athletes as if they aren’t real with families or struggles like others

Bennett penned a sample tweet of the fan reaction he was referencing: “Hahaha. You don’t have a job. Lol. I hope you never get a job or play again. Lmfao.”

Although the Super Bowl LI champ said the remarks don’t “really bother” him like they did when he was younger, he also noted the apparent lack of empathy as something he finds “interesting.”

“We can all sympathize,” he wrote. “The real emotion that the world seems to be missing these days is EMPATHY. There’s a huge difference.”

“These guys are young, hard-working individuals who developed skills to perform at a high level and compete for 1,500 jobs ever year,” Bennett continued.

The free agent called it “pretty f—– up” for fans to laugh when players are trying to find a job in order to feed their families.

For a 25 year old kid to be at home with his family struggling to find a job as he looks in the face of his wife and kid. And for fans to be like 😂 that’s what you get. Is pretty fucked up. Guys have families to feed.

When one Twitter user said it’s important to acknowledge the differences in finances between a pro athlete and an average person, Bennett argued people should be treated equally regardless of their income and pointed out money doesn’t necessarily eliminate problems.

They earned that money. It’s not their fault. So you think is ok to dehumanize someone because they have money? But if they were broke you wouldn’t do it? Is that logic here? https://t.co/wv2q6E7NkB

Everyone of us are the same. The same shit that makes you human makes the rich and famous human as well. So treat others the way you would want to be treated. Especially when you don’t know shit about who they really are

Bennett also explained how typical athletes have a narrow window of time to make enough money to support themselves in the long term. Once his NFL career is over, Bennett said he must develop another skill in order to maintain an income.

These guys have very limited to make their money. I hope everybody gets paid. They’ll only get to use the skills that took em a lifetime to develop for 3-5 years. Gotta cash out. Because when it’s over they’ll have to develop a new skill.

If I decide to retire I must develop another skill. You get to do exactly what you’ve been doing forever. We’re all counting down the days. Most dreading the day because it’s the only skill they’ve developed in their short lives.

In response to another user who compared the differences in annual salary between a pro athlete and an average person, Bennett said it’s important to recognize the amount of time that’s spent in order to earn a high-paying contract.

It takes most players 30 years to do the same. What’s your point? You only look at when they get a big contract not the time spent developing a skill and mostly for free in the process so big colleges can make money them as well. https://t.co/EDujwYKcL9

When a user called Bennett “lucky” because he made it in a profession that can offer such high paychecks, he strongly disagreed.

Again you’re truly missing the point. I’m not lucky. Only 1% of the people who try to get to where I am at get there. It’s scarce. That’s all hard work and dedication. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity the well prepared are often victorious https://t.co/7FI4h4mpYD

I would feel blessed regardless of what I did because it’s a choice I made and I’d have to work hard to earn it. Just like you have to at your job. You earned it. It wasn’t luck. https://t.co/7FI4h4mpYD

Bennett defended his argument against a number of other users’ replies — a mixed bag of people agreeing and disagreeing with him. Here’s some of what he had to say:

In response to someone who said “no one feels bad” for him because he’s “made millions for catching a ball”: “Again, I developed a skill that people pay a premium for. You can do the same. As I said, no one wants your sympathy. You’re just proving what I’m saying.”

In response to someone who asked if he wanted to trade net worth: “Nope. But you can develop a skill that gives you the net worth you would like to have. I started developing mine at age 5. I’m 31 now.”

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In response to someone who said he “quit” on his team: “I was cut. Lol. Didn’t quit. Don’t get the quit thing. Quite frankly it’s just silly. Lol.”